John Baird (L) is sworn-in as Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs as Prime Minister Stephen Harper (C) and Governor general David Johnston look on during a ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa. (Chris Wattie/REUTERS/Chris Wattie/REUTERS)

John Baird (L) is sworn-in as Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs as Prime Minister Stephen Harper (C) and Governor general David Johnston look on during a ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa.(Chris Wattie/REUTERS/Chris Wattie/REUTERS)

As It Happened

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Prime Minister Stephen Harper during a press conference in Calgary May 3, 2011 the day after Canadians went to the polls in the federal election and vote for Conservative Party majority.
John Lehmann/The Globe and Mail

In Pictures

A little over an hour after unveiling the cabinet, the Conservative Leader appointed three failed political candidates to the Senate, including Larry Smith, Fabian Manning and Josée Verner.

The Prime Minister has also brought back former black sheep Maxime Bernier as Minister of State for Small Business. Mr. Bernier left cabinet about three years ago after he left NATO documents at his then-girlfriend's house.

Mr. Harper's giving more prominence to Toronto, where the Tories made big gains on May 2.

Former Toronto investment banker and stock-market regulator Joe Oliver has been appointed Natural Resources Minister.

Mr. Harper has slightly increased his cabinet.

There are 39 ministers, one more than before his shuffle. It's now bigger than the 38-minister cabinet of former Liberal prime minister Paul Martin, whom Mr. Harper once suggested had too many in his ranks.

At first count there are nine new faces in cabinet.

Former Mulroney-era minister Bernard Valcourt is also back in a minister's chair, winning the job of shepherding the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). He was re-elected May 2, 18 years after he was last defeated.

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty stays put, as do a slew of other veteran ministers.

Though he remains at Citizenship and Immigration, Jason Kenney's been given additional responsibilities. He will now chair the powerful cabinet committee on operations, which helps shape government strategy and planning.

Tossed out of cabinet are Alberta's Rob Merrifield, former minister of state for transport, as well as New Brunswick's Rob Moore, former minister of state for small business and tourism.

Ontario's Peter Van Loan is headed back to the House Leader's job, where he'll help guide legislation through the House.

Former Ontario Provincial Police commissioner Julian Fantino moves to become an associate minister of defence.

Quebec is getting a relatively generous serving of ministers given the province only elected five Tories. Four of the province's MPs are in cabinet.

Quebec lieutenant Christian Paradis is moving to the Industry Department from Natural Resources.